‘Doughnut Hole’ Residents Divided Over Annexation By NMB
By Carli Teproff, The Miami Herald
Jan. 2–Allen Hack prefers his green Miami-Dade County garbage can over North Miami Beach’s black can. He believes the color of his trash can is about the only thing that will change if residents in the Northeast 10th Avenue area of unincorporated Miami-Dade known as the “Doughnut Hole” become part of North Miami Beach.
County commissioners recently approved — on first reading — allowing residents of the area bordered by Northeast Sixth Avenue on the west, Northeast 15th Avenue on the east, Miami Gardens Drive to the north and 163rd Street to the south to decide if they want their neighborhood to become part of the city.
The vote likely will come in June.
Miami-Dade County Commissioner Sally Heyman, who represents the Doughnut Hole area and North Miami Beach, said she is not taking a stance but believes in the continuity of services annexation would offer.
“I support the process and believe the people should have a chance to vote,” she said.
Hack knows he can’t block the annexation effort on his own.
But bringing together an organized group who are against becoming part of North Miami Beach has proved to be a challenge.
“We just haven’t been able to get anything together,” he said at his home in the 700 block of Northeast 177th Street. “We’re just a group of residents who have strong opinions, but we don’t have the money to back it up.”
Hack believes those who are opposed to the annexation effort cannot compete with the 10th Avenue Annexation Committee that is supported by the City of North Miami Beach.
The group, which formed more than two years ago and garnered enough signatures on a petition to let residents decide by a vote, already has received $25,000 from the city and the city recently committed up to an additional $75,000 to disseminate information.
North Miami Beach City Manager Keven Klopp said it’s in the best interest of the city to embrace the Doughnut Hole because it will erase the lines between county and city jurisdiction.
Klopp also said that the city will have to make a financial commitment to the new area of about 4,700 residents. Based on an old study, it could cost the city about $1 million in the first year and it would be at least four years before the city sees any increase in its tax revenue.
“It will likely be a cost to the city in the beginning,” he said. But we think its a good move for the future.”
Leo Schwartzberg, a resident leading the pro-annexation effort, said the city’s money definitely is helping the cause. When he passed around the petition, more than 700 of the area’s 2,300 registered voters signed.
“It costs money to produce literature,” he said.
And that is Hack’s problem — no money. The group circulated a petition against annexation a couple of months ago and 300 people signed. Hack said he and a few others have come up with a flier telling people why they should vote no.
“Warning!! Just Say No to NE Dade Annexation,” it reads.
Hack’s biggest complaint is annexation will cost residents more money. While the city says residents will have more code enforcement, police protection and other services, Hack is satisfied with what he is getting for what he is paying.
The county’s tax rate is $18.5680 for every $1,000 of assessed property value. That number includes all debt services and other taxes. In North Miami Beach, which has a population of about 42,000, property owners pay a higher rate: $23.6216 for every $1,000 of assessed property.
That means residents could pay about $640 a year more, money some believe is hard to come by.
Kelvin Williams who lives next door to Hack, said he too would rather stay in the county for financial reasons.
“I can’t afford any more taxes,” he said.
Those who want annexation say that once they are a part of North Miami Beach, residents will be closer to government and have more concentrated services in the community.
“North Miami Beach is not perfect, but I believe it is better than being a small part of the county,” Schwartzberg said.
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